Thomas Sowers knows the value of a good dog.
He's trained dogs for search and rescue as well as therapy. His late dog Jupiter was by his side for years.
And at the Dunbar City Council meeting Monday evening, he made sure Dunbar police had access to a good dog, too.
Sowers, along with a few other citizens, donated $6,000 to go toward a new K-9 officer for the city's police department.
"A dog is indispensable on the war on drugs," Dunbar Police Chief Jesse Bailes said. "They're fair. [The K-9 officer] doesn't know anything other than he wants to find his toy.
"He doesn't know who the person is in the vehicle, he doesn't even know why he's looking - he just knows 'I am going to find that toy.' And that toy represents that scent of drugs."
This isn't the first time Sowers has helped a K-9 unit. In 2001, Sowers was in a car crash in Putnam County.
"They came and rescued my dog," Sowers said. "I wanted to do something for them. And that's how it all started."
Since initially helping the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Sowers has donated funds to the West Virginia State Police and Kanawha County Sheriff.
"The community will benefit very much from having a drug dog here in Dunbar," Sowers said.
The city has been without a K-9 officer for about three months. During that time it's relied on help from the Kanawha County Sheriff.
"This will help us out tremendously," Bailes said. "All criminals have to travel and today people rarely walk, they usually drive. At any given time, in any city, there are drugs coming in and out of your city constantly, and we are constantly looking for clues."
Bailes isn't sure if the $6,000 will cover the entire cost of the dog and its training. But he said the donation goes a long way and that the city will be able to come up with the rest of the funds if necessary.
He added that K-9s make the process more efficient.
Once a dog is selected to join Dunbar's force it will go through an almost year-long training process.
Also on Monday, council moved forward in its effort to place liens on properties with delinquent municipal fees. Council passed two ordinances on first reading needed to place liens on property.
"We just wanting to come up with a way to be able to collect the money that is owed because it is not fair to people paying bills," Dunbar Mayor Terry Greenlee said.
It is not a new problem for the city and it's not limited to within Dunbar's boundaries, Greenlee said.
"Everyone is in the same boat," he said. "We are trying to be more aggressive and set a standard to help everybody"
If the ordinance's changes pass on second reading at the next council meeting, the clerk's office will begin the process of sending 90-day notices to property owners.
"Coal severance is drying up, grants are drying up," Greenlee said. "So cities are going to have to get more inventive on the way they collect their money and make sure people pay."
Greenlee said the city would work with property owners on payment plans if needed.
In other business, council:
n Accepted a $18,900 bid from Ed's Home & Commercial Improvement to install a new roof on the police department.
n Accepted an estimated bid of $4,924.09 from Pierson Technical Services to repair an air conditioning unit at the police department.
n Approved $3,200 to purchase Auto CAD computer software for the MS4 Committee.
n Approved $13,450 Fall Festival budget.
n Approved $3,720 to install a back flow at the bingo building storage unit to comply with West Virginia American Water request.
n Approved April 4 meeting minutes.
n Approved April 4 public hearing minutes.